Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
That’s what I’m going to do. Every second of my life is going to count from now on. Whether I spend it with Dave Simpson or not.
And right now, although I’d love to immerse myself in his body and have him give me ten orgasms, I’m not going to.
I’m going to just be with him.
Show him that I’m here, and that I care.
And yes, I could easily fall in love with him, but I’m not going to repeat the words he said to me.
It’s just not time yet.
“Dave?”
“Yeah?”
“I think I’d like to go home.”
He moves away from me. “Did I do something wrong?”
I kiss his shoulder. “No, not at all. But I think you’ve had a long day. A difficult day. I want you to be with your family. And I think I’d like to be with my family. I have a lot of thinking to do.”
“Anything I can help with?”
“You’re sweet to ask,” I say, “but you have your own stuff to deal with right now. I won’t burden you any further.”
He smiles. “I don’t mind, Maddie. It would be nice to take my mind off my own problems. The problems of my family.”
“It’s nothing like what you’re going through,” I say. “Now that I’m home, I’m thinking about going back to school. I can still catch up and finish my final semester on campus.”
He’s quiet.
Words scramble around my mind as I try to figure out how to continue the conversation—or end it—but then—
He grabs my hand. “I don’t… I don’t want you to go, Maddie.”
“We can still see each other. I’ll just be in Grand Junction. No more than a half hour away.”
He presses his lips together. “Yeah, that’s true. I can’t be selfish right now. You need to do what’s best for you.”
“I think it might be best for both of us,” I say. “Maybe we both need some distance. Figure out if what we’re feeling is real or just in the moment.”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”
My heart sinks a little. But what was I hoping he’d say? Please don’t go? I’ve fallen madly in love with you, Maddie? I’ll do anything to keep you here?
None of that was going to happen.
He has too much on his mind with his family.
All three of my siblings will be forced into the middle of whatever’s going on, but I can’t force myself into the middle when Dave isn’t sure about us.
I also need to make sure what I feel for him isn’t just infatuation. That it’s something more.
And perhaps going back to school will help me to figure that out.
Dave rises, grabs his jeans, and scrambles into them. “All right, baby. I’ll take you home.”
“I think that’s best for now. Maybe we can see each other tomorrow. Have lunch or something?”
“That depends,” he says. “When will you be going back to school?”
I rub my chin. “Probably Monday. I’ve already sent an email to the registrar. I’m just waiting to hear back if I can get into the classes I want and do the makeup work for the first couple of weeks.”
He nods.
I rise from the bed and dress quickly.
We don’t talk a lot during the half hour ride back to my home. Always the gentleman, Dave gets out first, opens my door for me, and walks me to the door.
He gives me a quick peck on the lips. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Yeah. Thanks for today.”
“I should be thanking you.”
“Why don’t we just thank each other?” I give him another quick kiss and then go inside.
Chapter Nineteen
Dave
When I get home, I don’t want to be alone, so I end up going back to my parents’ house. Gary is still there anyway, and I want to see my dog.
I walk in. Henry and the girls are in the kitchen, having a snack.
“Where are Mom and Dad?” I ask.
“I think they’re in Dad’s office,” Sage says.
“Thanks.”
I don’t stop to talk to my brother and sisters, even though I probably should.
Instead I walk down the long hallway to Dad’s office. I reach my hand to knock, but then I stop when I hear Mom’s voice.
“Everything will be okay, Bryce. One way or another.”
Then a choking sob.
And it didn’t come from my mother.
My father…is crying.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen or heard my father cry in my entire life.
I should leave. Give them their privacy, but my feet stay glued outside his office door.
“I don’t know what I’ll do without him,” my father says through another sob.
“You’ll move on. For your family. For your children. You have four children who need you, Bryce.”
“Joe has two children who need him,” my father counters.
“I know, baby. And I know how much he means to you.”
“I’ve known him since before you were born,” Dad says.
My mother doesn’t respond. She’s probably hugging him, stroking his hair, as he cries.